Current-motor.



PATENTED MAR. 24. 1908.

J. KIRSGHWENG. CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2x 8 m use:

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

J. KIRSCHWBNG. OURRBNTQMO TOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY '1. 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN KIRSCHWENG, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

GURRE NT-MOTOR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed May 7, 1907. Serial No. 372,426.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KIRSCHWENG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current- Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for utilizing the currents of running streams for creating power and. has for its object the provision of a float substantially triangular in form having shafts journaled on its two long sides with propeller wheels keyed thereto, and air pumps operatively connected with said shafts and a storage tank connected with said pumps.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the shafts and also means for transporting the compressed air from the storage tank.

The construction and operation of my improved motor will be explained in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying my invention, Fig. 2, a side view thereof, Fig. 3, an end view showing the propellers in an operative position, and Fig. 4, a similar view showing the propellers in an inoperative position.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My improved current motor is mounted on a float 1 that is triangular in shape as shown with rock shafts 2 journaled in bear ings 3 secured to the long sides of the float. Angular arms4 are secured to rock shafts 2 having ournal bearings 5 on the ends of one of their arms in which are journaled shafts 6.

7 indicates propeller wheels secured to shafts 6.

8 indicates a rod slidably mounted centrally of float 1 and having at the end in the bow of the float a rack 8 secured. thereto.

10 indicates a chain secured to the free arm of each. angular arm 4 and to rod 8 passing around pulleys 11 secured. to the float.

12 indicates gearing, j ournaled. in uprights 13 and operated by a crank 14, meshing with rack 9. It will be understood that by turning the gearing 12 so that the rod 8 slides towards the stern of the float the arms peller wheels 7 to enter the water, while when the gearing is turned in the opposite direction the rod 8 slides towards the bow of the float and lifts the propeller wheels and shafts out of the water.

15 indicates an arm secured to the rear end of each. rock shaft 2 and having an air compressor 16 secured thereto operated by a pitman 17 having its free end secured. to a disk 18 keyed to the end of shaft 6.

19 indicates a storage tank mounted on float 1, 20 a pipe connecting each compressor 16 with the storage tank 19, and 21 a pipe for conveying the compressed air from the storage tank to the shore.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a current motor, a float, rock shafts journaled on said float, arms secured to said rock shafts, propeller wheels ournaled in said arms, a rod slidably mounted on said float, flexible devices connecting said rod and arms, means to slide said rod so as to rock said shafts and submerge said propeller Wheels or lift them from the water, and means to utilize the power generated by said propeller wheels when submerged, substan tially as shown and described.

2. In a current motor, a triangular shaped float having one angle pointing up stream, a rock shaft journaled on each side of the float, arms secured to each rock shaft having journal bearings on their ends, shafts journaled in said bearings, propeller wheels secured to said shafts, a rod slidably mounted on said float, flexible devices connecting said rod and arms, means to slide said rod so as to rock sa'id shafts and submerge said propeller Wheels or lift them from the water, and means to utilize the power generated by said propeller wheels when submerged, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a current motor, a triangular shaped float having one angle pointing up stream, a rock shaft journaled on each side of the float,

' angular arms secured to each rock shaft, a

journal bearing on one of said arms, shafts journaled. in said bearing, propeller'wheels secured to said shafts, other arms secured at the rear ends of said shafts, an air-compressor secured to each of the last mentioned arms, a storage tank secured to the float, pipes connecting the air compressors and storage tank, a pipe to convey the contents of the storage tank therefrom, and means to actu- 4 swing so as to permit the shafts 6 and pro 1 ate said rock shafts so as to submerge said propeller Wheels or lift them from the Water, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a current motor, a triangular shaped float having one angle pointing up stream, a rock shaft ournaled on each side of the float, angular arms secured to each rock shaft, j ournal hearings on one of said arms, shafts journaled in said bearings, other arms secured at the rear ends of said shafts, an air-compressor secured to each of the last mentioned arms, a storage tank secured to the float, pipes connecting the air compressors and storage tank, a pipe to convey the contents of the storage tank therefrom, a rod slidably secured longitudinally of said float, chains connecting said rod With the free ,ends of said angular arms, a rack bar secured to said rod,

means to actuate said gearing, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. JOHN KIRSCHWENG. Witnesses:

VVILLARD E. GRAY, MATILDA C. PENNINGER.

gearing meshing with said rack bar, and 

